Mobile City
Data updated
Comparevs Fatevs Rockwallvs Royse Cityvs Rowlettvs Garland
Each dot is one of the 84 cities we score — brighter means a higher score. Boundaries, highways and lakes: US Census TIGER.
- Prosperity50
- Schools87
- Safety90
- Lifestyle76
- Market50
- Affordability50
- Commute56
- Growth91
Snapshot
✓ Pros
- Extremely quiet and private
- Lower property costs
- Access to nearby Rockwall amenities
✗ Cons
- Very limited data available for planning
- Very limited data available for planning
- Minimal community infrastructure
Demographics
Population
Mobility & Migration
Age Distribution
Households
Education Level
Connectivity & Remote Work
Racial & Ethnic Composition
Real Estate
Home Prices
Market Health
Market Insights
Typical Home
Property Mix
Common Features
Costs & Ownership
Investment Indicators
Lifestyle
Explore Mobile City on Google Maps
Lifestyle Scores
Getting Around
Averaged across Mobile City, weighted by where people live. #33 of 84 cities. Most errands need a car here.
Local life in Mobile City
Mobile City is a very small incorporated city in Rockwall County, just off Interstate 30 east of the City of Rockwall. Drivers reach it from the Fate exit on I-30.
Where Mobile City runs errands, sees a doctor and goes to school8,11,12,13,15,18
- 1Walmart Supercenter #259 (grocery + pharmacy)
- 2Hunt Regional Urgent Care - Fate
- 3Texas Health Rockwall (24-hour ER)
- 4Rockwall City Hall
- 5Rockwall ISD Administration / Rockwall Quest Academy
- 6Rockwall High School
- 7Rockwall-Heath High School
- 8Dr. Gene Burton College & Career Academy
- 9J.W. Williams Middle School
- 10Maurine Cain Middle School
- 11Herman E. Utley Middle School
- 12Ursula Rakow Middle School
No point inside Mobile City is mapped: the only street addresses we found for city hall or businesses come from undated listings or conflict with newer reporting. Schools are Rockwall ISD's high schools and middle schools; the zoned middle school for Mobile City is not confirmed.
Nearby annual events with 2025-26 dates15,16
| Month | Event | Where |
|---|---|---|
| September | Celebrate Fate (Sat, Sept 19, 2026, from 5 p.m.) | Fate |
| December | Kiwanis Christmas Parade (Sat, Dec 6, 2025, 9-10:30 a.m.) | Rockwall County Library to downtown Rockwall |
| December | Hometown Christmas Festival (Sat, Dec 6, 2025, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.) | Downtown Rockwall Square |
| December | Christmas Tree Lighting (Sat, Dec 6, 2025, 6-8 p.m.) | Rockwall City Hall, 385 S. Goliad St. |
Mobile City holds no public events we could find with 2025-26 dates. These are the closest city-run events with published dates.
Drive times from Mobile City17
- Walmart Supercenter, Rockwall3.9 mi7 min
- Rockwall City Hall3.9 mi8 min
- Texas Health Rockwall (ER)5.3 mi9 min
- Dallas City Hall25.7 mi32 min
- Dallas Love Field terminal31.1 mi44 min
- DFW Airport headquarters42.8 mi54 min
Realust calculation with the OSRM open routing engine from Lilac Lane, Mobile City, to each exact street address. Free-flow times; weekday rush hour on I-30 adds time. DFW is routed to the airport's headquarters address (2400 Aviation Dr.), not a passenger terminal.
What's in Mobile City vs. nearby2,6,8,11,12,13,14,15
| Need | In Mobile City | Nearest outside the city |
|---|---|---|
| Grocery | None confirmed | Walmart Supercenter, 782 E. I-30, Rockwall (3.9 mi); Kroger Marketplace under construction in Fate |
| Pharmacy | None confirmed | Walmart Pharmacy, 782 E. I-30, Rockwall |
| Urgent care | None | Hunt Regional Urgent Care, 5000 E. IH-30, Ste. 120, Fate |
| Emergency room / hospital | None | Texas Health Rockwall, 3150 Horizon Rd. (24-hour ER, 5.3 mi) |
| Police | None (county sheriff) | Rockwall County Sheriff's Office |
| Fire / ambulance | None | Rockwall Fire Department (2013 report); countywide ambulance via Emergency Services Corporation |
| Library | None | Rockwall County Library, Yellowjacket Ln., Rockwall |
| Schools | None | Rockwall ISD campuses in Rockwall, Fate and Heath |
| Parks / events | None found | Rockwall and Fate city events |
Nearby places confirmed from 2025-26 store, hospital, clinic and city pages. Fire service arrangement is from 2013 reporting and should be rechecked.
Read the full local life guide
A city that is one mobile home park
Mobile City is a very small incorporated city in Rockwall County, just off Interstate 30 east of the City of Rockwall. Drivers reach it from the Fate exit on I-30. The city is a single mobile home park on three lanes: Ivey, Lilac and Rose. A rail line runs along the back of the park.
The park's owners incorporated it in 1990 so a store could sell alcohol in what was then a dry county. A 2021 Texas Monthly report counted 60 mobile homes. It said nearly 20 had been vacated by the end of 2019, after the property was sold to a Dallas property management firm, and that water and sewer moved from rent-included to sub-metered billing after the sale.
City government is minimal. In 2021 the city council met on the first Tuesday of each month at the mayor's home, which served as city hall. City ordinances set a 15 mph speed limit and ban fireworks inside the city. The Texas State Directory lists a mailing address of P.O. Box 1657, Rockwall, TX 75087, Mayor Kenny Phillips, and commissioners Brittany Berry and Zurik Phillips. Postal addresses use Rockwall and ZIP code 75087.
No downtown, parks or events inside the city
There is no downtown or town square. We found no shops or restaurants inside the city with 2025-26 evidence that they are open, so none are listed or mapped here. Earlier reporting named a liquor store and a carnicería at the edge of the park, but we could not confirm either is still operating.
We found no city-run parks, programs or events with 2025 or 2026 dates. In 2021 the park had a half-court basketball court that the mayor built, and residents received free Thanksgiving and Christmas meals.
Nearby cities host the larger annual events. Rockwall's Hometown Christmas on Dec. 6, 2025 ran a Kiwanis Christmas parade from the Rockwall County Library on Yellowjacket Lane to downtown, an all-day festival on the downtown square, and an evening tree lighting at Rockwall City Hall, 385 S. Goliad St. Fate's Celebrate Fate is on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, from 5 p.m., with live music, food vendors, a pickleball classic and fireworks.
Errands and health care are in Rockwall and Fate
There is no grocery store or pharmacy we could confirm in the city. The Walmart Supercenter at 782 E. Interstate 30 in Rockwall is about 3.9 miles and 7 minutes away. It is open daily 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. and has a pharmacy that opens at 9 a.m.
Kroger held a groundbreaking for a Kroger Marketplace of nearly 99,000 square feet in Fate's Lafayette Crossing development, on the I-30 frontage road. No opening date has been announced.
For walk-in care, Hunt Regional Urgent Care is at 5000 E. IH-30, Suite 120, in Fate. It is open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends, with X-rays and lab tests. The nearest hospital is Texas Health Rockwall, at 3150 Horizon Road in Rockwall, about 5.3 miles and 9 minutes away. Its emergency department runs 24 hours a day.
Schools: Rockwall ISD
Mobile City is in Rockwall ISD. The district assigns each address to a neighborhood elementary school and a designated middle school. Its 2026-27 attendance zone map is posted on the district site, and families can confirm their zone with the district's attendance-zone inquiry form. We could not confirm from that map which elementary and middle school zones cover Mobile City.
Rockwall ISD has 16 elementary schools, four middle schools and two high schools: Rockwall High School (901 Yellowjacket Lane) and Rockwall-Heath High School (801 Laurence Drive). Its four middle schools are J.W. Williams, Maurine Cain, Herman E. Utley and Ursula Rakow. It also runs Rockwall Quest Academy and the Dr. Gene Burton College & Career Academy.
In the 2026 TEA accountability ratings, Rockwall ISD scored 91, an A. Rockwall High School scored 96 (A), Rockwall-Heath High School 95 (A) and Rockwall Quest Academy 92 (A). The district's score for the 2024-25 school year was 89.
Getting around and public safety
I-30 is the main route in and out. Off-peak, Rockwall City Hall is about 8 minutes away, Dallas City Hall about 32 minutes (25.7 miles), Dallas Love Field about 44 minutes and DFW Airport's headquarters building about 54 minutes. Rush-hour traffic on I-30 adds time.
Mobile City has no police or fire department of its own. In 2013 the Dallas Morning News reported that the Rockwall County Sheriff's Office handled police calls at no extra charge and that the Rockwall Fire Department answered fire calls for a per-call fee. Mobile City is a member of the Rockwall County Emergency Services Corporation, which provides ambulance service countywide under a contract that took effect April 1, 2023.
Not confirmed yet
- Which Rockwall ISD elementary and middle school zones cover Mobile City in 2026-27.
- Whether any store or restaurant operates inside the city limits today.
- Current fire-service arrangement (the per-call deal with Rockwall Fire Department is from 2013 reporting).
- Where the city council meets now and whether there is a public city hall.
- Street address of the Rockwall County Library and the Rockwall County Sheriff's Office, from a 2025-26 source.
- Nearby lakes and parks (for example, Lake Ray Hubbard) with sourced, routed drive times.
- 2026 TEA ratings for the zoned elementary and middle schools.
Questions people ask
What is Mobile City, Texas?
A very small incorporated city in Rockwall County, off I-30 east of Rockwall. The whole city is one mobile home park on three lanes. Its owners incorporated it in 1990 so alcohol could be sold there, when the county was dry.
What school district serves Mobile City?
Rockwall ISD. The district assigns elementary and middle schools by address, so check the district's 2026-27 zone map or use its attendance-zone inquiry form. Rockwall ISD earned an A (91) in the 2026 TEA ratings.
Where do Mobile City residents buy groceries?
We found no grocery store in the city. The Walmart Supercenter at 782 E. I-30 in Rockwall is about 7 minutes away and has a pharmacy. A Kroger Marketplace is under construction in Fate, with no opening date announced.
Where is the nearest emergency room?
Texas Health Rockwall, at 3150 Horizon Road in Rockwall, runs a 24-hour emergency department. It is about 5.3 miles and 9 minutes away. Hunt Regional Urgent Care in Fate handles walk-in visits seven days a week.
Does Mobile City have its own police or fire department?
No. The Rockwall County Sheriff's Office handles police calls, and in 2013 the Rockwall Fire Department answered fire calls for a per-call fee. Ambulance service comes through the Rockwall County Emergency Services Corporation, which the city belongs to.
How long is the drive from Mobile City to Dallas?
About 32 minutes to Dallas City Hall off-peak, roughly 26 miles via I-30. Dallas Love Field is about 44 minutes away. Rush hour adds time.
Does Mobile City hold any events?
We found no city events with 2025 or 2026 dates. Nearby, Rockwall holds its Hometown Christmas parade, festival and tree lighting in early December, and Fate holds Celebrate Fate in September.
Sources (19) · checked Oct 28, 2026
- Texas Monthly, 'In Mobile City, Everybody Knows Your Name' (July 2021)
- Dallas Morning News, trailer park city that incorporated for liquor sales (Oct. 25, 2013)
- Wikipedia, Mobile City, Texas
- Texas Almanac, Mobile City
- Texas State Directory, Mobile City entry
- Rockwall County, Emergency Services Corporation
- Rockwall ISD, School Attendance Areas (updated May 2026)
- Rockwall ISD, 2026-2027 attendance zone map with school legend (PDF)
- Rockwall Herald-Banner, Rockwall ISD earns A rating, doubles academic distinctions (2026 TEA ratings)
- Rockwall ISD, Rockwall ISD rises to 89 in state accountability (Aug. 14, 2025)
- Walmart, Rockwall E Interstate 30 Supercenter #259
- Texas Health Resources, Texas Health Rockwall
- Hunt Regional Urgent Care, locations (modified Oct. 21, 2026)
- Rockwall Herald-Banner, Kroger holds ceremonial groundbreaking for new Marketplace in Fate
- City of Rockwall, Hometown Christmas (Dec. 6, 2025)
- City of Fate, Celebrate Fate (2026)
- OSRM open routing engine (Realust drive-time calculation, Oct. 2026)
- Esri ArcGIS World Geocoding Service (destination coordinates)
- Hunt Regional Healthcare, new urgent care clinic in Fate (Nov. 13, 2023)
Seasonal Temperatures
Annual Conditions
Crime & Safety
Safety Overview
County estimate. Mobile City<span class="city-suffix">, TX Housing Guide</span> has no police department of its own; the Rockwall County Sheriff's Office patrols it. These rates are for all the areas that agency covers, not Mobile City<span class="city-suffix">, TX Housing Guide</span> alone, so treat them as a rough guide.
Violent Crime
Property Crime
Job Market
Income
Employment
Education
School District
Schools
Academic Info
📈 Graduation Rates (Class of 2024)
🎯 College Readiness (Class of 2023)
Transportation
Mobility Scores
Commute
Distance To
⚡ EV Charging
Drive to major employers from Mobile City
Rush-hour drive times from the center of Mobile City, weekday at 8:00 AM.
| Workplace | 8 AM rush | No traffic | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| State Farm CityLineRichardson | 38 min | 27 min | 26.2 mi |
| Telecom CorridorRichardson | 41 min | 28 min | 28.2 mi |
| UT DallasRichardson | 46 min | 33 min | 30.5 mi |
| Medical City PlanoPlano | 47 min | 33 min | 31.4 mi |
| Texas InstrumentsDallas | 52 min | 29 min | 26.5 mi |
| Baylor University Medical CenterDallas | 53 min | 29 min | 24.9 mi |
| Downtown DallasDallas | 54 min | 29 min | 25.7 mi |
| Legacy WestPlano | 55 min | 37 min | 38.4 mi |
Show all 36 workplaces
| Workplace | 8 AM rush | No traffic | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tyler TechnologiesPlano | 55 min | 40 min | 36 mi |
| AT&TDowntown Dallas | 57 min | 32 min | 25.9 mi |
| Galleria / LBJDallas | 57 min | 31 min | 29.1 mi |
| RaytheonMcKinney | 57 min | 43 min | 42.9 mi |
| Toyota North America HQPlano | 57 min | 41 min | 40.1 mi |
| Capital OnePlano | 58 min | 40 min | 41 mi |
| JPMorgan Chase Legacy WestPlano | 58 min | 38 min | 39.1 mi |
| The StarFrisco | 58 min | 41 min | 41.5 mi |
| Uptown DallasDallas | 58 min | 31 min | 27.1 mi |
| Keurig Dr PepperFrisco | 59 min | 41 min | 41.1 mi |
| Frito-Lay / PepsiCoPlano | 59 min | 41 min | 39.7 mi |
| McKessonLas Colinas | 60 min | 37 min | 38.3 mi |
| SMUUniversity Park | 68 min | 36 min | 30.2 mi |
| UT Southwestern / Medical DistrictDallas | 68 min | 36 min | 31.3 mi |
| DFW AirportDFW | 70 min | 47 min | 46.4 mi |
| Dallas Love FieldDallas | 73 min | 41 min | 33.5 mi |
| American AirlinesFort Worth | 74 min | 48 min | 46.3 mi |
| Arlington Entertainment DistrictArlington | 74 min | 49 min | 44.2 mi |
| Las Colinas Urban CenterIrving | 74 min | 40 min | 37.6 mi |
| Southwest AirlinesLove Field | 74 min | 41 min | 34.6 mi |
| Kimberly-ClarkIrving | 76 min | 43 min | 38.2 mi |
| Fidelity InvestmentsWestlake | 78 min | 54 min | 55.4 mi |
| Charles SchwabWestlake | 78 min | 54 min | 56.4 mi |
| University of North TexasDenton | 79 min | 61 min | 62.3 mi |
| Texas Woman's UniversityDenton | 80 min | 62 min | 62.3 mi |
| Downtown Fort WorthFort Worth | 86 min | 59 min | 57.5 mi |
| AllianceTexasFort Worth | 87 min | 64 min | 64.2 mi |
| Lockheed MartinFort Worth | 94 min | 67 min | 66.5 mi |
Source: Google Routes forecast, updated October 2026. Find where to live near your work →
Cost of Living
Cost Index (100 = National Average)
Monthly Utilities
Everyday Costs
Taxes
Hidden costs in Mobile City
Mobile City began as an 8.8-acre trailer park on Interstate 30, less than a mile east of Rockwall, and incorporated in 1990. It is one of the smallest cities in Texas, with 142 residents in the 2020 census.
Estimated 2025 property tax on a $22,200 home in Mobile City1,2,3,4,11
| Taxing unit | 2025 rate | Owner-occupied (homestead) | Not owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rockwall ISD | 1.0669 | $0 ($140,000 exemption) | $237 |
| Rockwall County | 0.251 | $56 | $56 |
| City of Mobile City | No city tax | $0 | $0 |
| Total (estimate) | 1.3179 | $56/yr | $293/yr |
Realust estimate built from published rates. Value is the ACS 2024 5-year median for owner-occupied homes. Assumes no county general homestead exemption (latest sheet found is 2022), no MUD or PID, owner under 65, no 10% cap.
Base 2025 tax rate in nearby Rockwall County cities2
- Royse City (Royse City ISD)2.08%
- Fate (Royse City ISD)1.80%
- Fate (Rockwall ISD)1.61%
- Heath (Rockwall ISD)1.59%
- Rockwall (Rockwall ISD)1.58%
- McLendon-Chisholm (Rockwall ISD)1.41%
All rows from one sheet (Independence Title, Rockwall County 2025). Mobile City has no row because it levies no city tax; its addresses pay Rockwall ISD (1.0669) and Rockwall County (0.251) from the same sheet. Rowlett, Wylie, Garland and Dallas are left out because the two 2025 title sheets pair them with different ISDs. Excludes MUDs and PIDs.
Utility providers in Mobile City10,13,16,17
| Service | Provider | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Electric | Oncor wires with retail choice (one comparison site); Farmers Electric Co-op serves parts of the county | Not confirmed by address |
| Water & sewer | Included in lot rent per an undated park listing | Not confirmed |
| Trash | Park management (2013 report) | Not confirmed for 2026 |
| Internet | AT&T fiber, EarthLink, Spectrum, T-Mobile 5G, Nextlink, Viasat | FCC-based coverage via HighSpeedInternet.com |
| Police / fire / EMS | Rockwall County Sheriff; Rockwall Fire (per call); county EMS corporation | 2013 report; not rechecked |
Read the full hidden costs guide
A city with no city property tax
Mobile City began as an 8.8-acre trailer park on Interstate 30, less than a mile east of Rockwall, and incorporated in 1990. It is one of the smallest cities in Texas, with 142 residents in the 2020 census.
The Texas Comptroller's directory of Rockwall County taxing units lists nine cities and no Mobile City. The 2025 title-company rate sheets for the county don't list it either. A Mobile City address pays two taxing units: Rockwall ISD at 1.0669 and Rockwall County at 0.251 per $100 of value, for a base rate of 1.3179% before exemptions. That is lower than every Rockwall County city on the same sheet, all of which add a city rate on top of the same ISD and county rates.
Rockwall County has no college district, hospital district or emergency services district on the Comptroller's list.
What the tax bill looks like
The Census Bureau's 2024 five-year survey puts the median value of owner-occupied homes in Mobile City at $22,200. At that value, the state's $140,000 school homestead exemption erases the Rockwall ISD tax. With no county general homestead exemption on the latest county sheet found, the county bill would be about $56 a year.
The same home without a homestead exemption, such as one owned by someone who lives elsewhere, would owe about $293 a year. Owners 65 and older get an extra $60,000 school exemption and a school tax ceiling. The 2022 county sheet also shows a $35,000 county over-65 exemption.
Rockwall ISD kept its rate at 1.0669 for 2026-27. The county's 2026 rate was not confirmed.
MUDs and PIDs
Rockwall County has seven MUDs, four PID accounts and one management district on the Comptroller's list. None of them names Mobile City in any record found. Before buying, check the parcel on the Rockwall Central Appraisal District site, which lists every taxing unit for each property.
Utilities and services
A park directory listing says lot rent includes water, sewer and trash, but it carries no date, so ask the park for its current rent and what it covers. One power-comparison site lists Oncor as the only electric utility for Mobile City, which would mean you shop for a retail plan. Confirm by address.
HighSpeedInternet.com's reading of FCC data shows AT&T fiber reaching 78% of the city, Spectrum 45% and T-Mobile 5G home internet 53%, with Nextlink and Viasat covering nearly all of it. Spectrum and T-Mobile both advertise plans from $30 a month.
Commute and renting
Mobile City is on I-30. Drivers who use the President George Bush Turnpike pay NTTA tolls, which rose to 22 cents a mile for TollTag users in July 2025.
The Census survey counts about 76 of the city's 118 occupied homes as rented, though margins are wide at this size. No current median rent was confirmed.
What to check before you sign
Because the city levies no tax and no city utility rates or fee schedule were found, most of the monthly cost here comes from the park and from private providers. Ask the park for its current lot rent, what the rent covers and how often it has gone up. Ask who sends the electric bill and whether you can pick a retail plan. Look up the parcel on the Rockwall CAD site to see every taxing unit and the current appraised value, and check the FEMA flood map for the lot.
Not confirmed yet
- What is the current lot rent, and does it include water, sewer and trash?
- Which electric utility serves Mobile City, and is retail choice available there?
- What share of Mobile City sits in a FEMA flood hazard area?
- What is the median gross rent in Mobile City?
- Are manufactured homes in the park taxed as real or personal property, and do owners who rent the lot qualify for the homestead exemption?
- What does homeowners insurance cost for a manufactured home here?
Questions people ask
Does Mobile City, Texas have a city property tax?
No city rate was found. Mobile City is not on the Texas Comptroller's list of Rockwall County taxing units, and the 2025 title-company sheets show no Mobile City rate. Addresses pay Rockwall ISD and Rockwall County.
What is the property tax rate in Mobile City, TX?
The 2025 base rate is 1.3179% before exemptions: Rockwall ISD 1.0669 and Rockwall County 0.251 per $100 of value.
What school district serves Mobile City?
Rockwall ISD.
How much property tax would I pay on a home in Mobile City?
At the ACS median value of $22,200, a homestead would owe about $56 a year, all of it county tax, because the $140,000 school exemption covers the rest. Without a homestead exemption, about $293 a year.
Is Mobile City in a MUD or PID?
No MUD or PID record names Mobile City, but that does not rule one out. Check the parcel on the Rockwall CAD site.
What internet is available in Mobile City?
AT&T fiber, Spectrum, T-Mobile 5G home internet, EarthLink, Nextlink and Viasat, according to HighSpeedInternet.com's reading of FCC data. Coverage varies by address.
Sources (18) · checked Oct 28, 2026
- Texas Comptroller, Rockwall County property tax directory (taxing units; CAD page updated June 11, 2026)
- Independence Title, Rockwall County 2025 Tax Rates
- Republic Title, 2025 DFW Tax Rates and Exemptions
- Old Republic Title, Rockwall County 2022 tax exemptions (dated 01/2023)
- Rockwall County, FY26 Notice of Public Hearing on Tax Increase (tax year 2025)
- Hoodline, Rockwall County cuts property tax rate, approves $59 million budget for FY 2026 (Sept. 2025)
- Blue Ribbon News, Rockwall ISD board adopts tax rate below no-new-revenue tax rate (Aug. 20, 2026)
- Wikipedia, Mobile City, Texas
- Texas State Historical Association, Handbook of Texas: Mobile City, TX
- Dallas Morning News, Trailer park city that incorporated for liquor sales now fosters friendly community (Oct. 25, 2013)
- Census Reporter, Mobile City, TX profile (ACS 2024 5-year)
- U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 5-year summary file, table B25003 (tenure)
- HighSpeedInternet.com, Internet providers in Mobile City, TX (page updated Aug. 24, 2026)
- KETR, Toll rates set to rise in North Texas starting July 1 (June 4, 2025)
- City of Fate, Tax Rates
- MHBO, Mobile City Park listing (undated)
- ComparePower (development site), Mobile City, TX electricity rates and providers
- Texas Comptroller, 2025 ISD Summary Worksheet, Rockwall ISD
What’s coming
Growth story in Mobile City
Mobile City began as a mobile home park in unincorporated Rockwall County, along I-30 just east of Rockwall. It incorporated as a city on January 25, 1990, so that a beer, wine and liquor store could open in a county that was otherwise dry.
Mobile City population at each Census, 2000-20201
Decennial Census counts (April 1). The 1990 figure (94, a Census estimates base) is in the text.
Mobile City population estimates, 2020-20252
Census Bureau Vintage 2025 estimates for July 1 of each year; mark all as estimates. No NCTCOG or city figure exists for comparison.
New housing units permitted in Mobile City, reported years6
Census Building Permits Survey; only years the city reported for all 12 months. 2001, 2002 and 2012-2014 were imputed by the Bureau and are left out. The city is not in the survey after 2014.
Rockwall ISD enrollment, 2015-16 to 2024-2511
District-wide, from Ballotpedia's table of NCES counts. Mobile City is a very small part of the district. The district's 2021 outlook for 2030 is in the text.
Housing in Mobile City1,7
| Community | Owner | Homes | Status | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile City manufactured-home community | Buena Vista Estates (bought 2019) | About 60 homes (2021); 59 housing units (2020 Census) | Built out; no new lots or expansion announced | Ivey, Lilac and Rose lanes off the I-30 frontage road |
The community is the whole city. Current (2026) ownership was not confirmed.
Median home value in Mobile City (ACS 5-year)19
Owner estimates of value, nominal dollars, five-year periods; mostly manufactured homes. Margins of error: ±$2,635 (2018-22), ±$1,010 (2019-23), ±$1,396 (2020-24).
Read the full growth story guide
A city built around a liquor license
Mobile City began as a mobile home park in unincorporated Rockwall County, along I-30 just east of Rockwall. It incorporated as a city on January 25, 1990, so that a beer, wine and liquor store could open in a county that was otherwise dry. After incorporation the park's roads were paved for the first time.
Until fall 2007 it was the only city in Rockwall County that allowed alcohol sales outside restaurants. The city has no police or fire department of its own. In 2013 it relied on the Rockwall Fire Department, paid per call, and the Rockwall County Sheriff's Office.
Population: small and shrinking, then a slight rebound
The Census counted 196 people in 2000, 188 in 2010 and 142 in 2020. That is a 24% drop over the last decade. The Census Bureau's estimates show a modest rebound since then: 143 in July 2020, 154 in 2022 and 172 in July 2025.
No projection exists for Mobile City. NCTCOG's 2026 population estimates do not list it, and no city or county forecast was found.
Housing: one built-out community
The whole city is a single manufactured-home community of about 60 homes on three lanes, Ivey, Lilac and Rose, reached from the I-30 frontage road. It covers 0.015 square miles, about 10 acres.
The 2020 Census found 59 housing units, and 30.5% of them were vacant. In 2019 the park was sold to Dallas-based Buena Vista Estates, which added water and sewer sub-meters and new fees. By the end of that year nearly 20 of the 60 homes had been vacated, according to Texas Monthly.
In every year the city reported to the Census Bureau's permit survey (2000 and 2003-2011), it permitted no new housing units. It has not appeared in the survey since 2014. No new subdivision, annexation or redevelopment plan was found.
What is changing around it
The biggest project touching Mobile City is the I-30 widening from SH 205 east to the Hunt County line. TxDOT lists it at $348 million, 52% complete as of September 2026, with completion due in December 2028. West of SH 205, a $313 million rebuild from Dalrock Road is 77% complete and due in July 2027.
Growth in nearby Rockwall and Fate does not show up inside Mobile City's limits, because there is no vacant land to build on. Anyone weighing a home here should ask the park's current management about lot rent, fees and lease terms, since the city itself does not set them.
Schools: Rockwall ISD
Mobile City is served by Rockwall ISD. The district grew from 15,462 students in 2015-16 to 19,235 in 2024-25, and state data show 19,185 in 2026. In 2021 the district, citing demographers, projected enrollment to grow about 21% by 2030.
Voters passed bonds in 2015 and 2021, rejected three bonds and a tax-rate increase in November 2024, and approved a tax-rate election in November 2025 to fund pay and programs. Check campus assignments by address.
Values and incomes
Census survey data put the median owner-estimated home value at $17,000 in 2018-2022, $22,300 in 2019-2023 and $22,200 in 2020-2024. These are mostly manufactured homes, and owners may also pay lot rent. Median gross rent was $1,175 (±$168) in 2020-2024.
Median household income was $26,875 (±$7,114) in 2011-2015. Later income figures are either unpublished or too uncertain to report for a city this small.
Not confirmed yet
- Does Mobile City have any extraterritorial jurisdiction, or is it fully surrounded by Rockwall's limits or ETJ?
- Will the I-30 widening take any frontage from the city or change access to Ivey Lane?
- Does the city adopt and publish an annual budget, and what does it spend on services?
- What lot rent and fees does the park charge in 2026?
Questions people ask
What is the population of Mobile City, Texas?
The Census Bureau estimated 172 residents on July 1, 2025. The 2020 Census counted 142.
Why is Mobile City a city?
The mobile home park incorporated in January 1990 so a beer, wine and liquor store could open in what was then a dry county.
How big is Mobile City?
0.015 square miles of land, about 10 acres, according to the Census Bureau.
Are new homes being built in Mobile City?
No. The city reported zero new housing units in every year it reported to the Census permit survey, and no new community or expansion was found.
What school district serves Mobile City?
Rockwall ISD.
Is Mobile City growing?
Not much. The Census count fell from 196 in 2000 to 142 in 2020. Census estimates show a rise to 172 by July 2025.
What road work is happening near Mobile City?
TxDOT is widening I-30 from SH 205 to the Hunt County line, due in December 2028.
Sources (21) · checked Oct 28, 2026
- Mobile City, Texas (Wikipedia; incorporation, 2000-2020 Census table, 2020 Census housing, school district)
- U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2025 city and town population estimates, Texas (sub-est2025_48.csv)
- U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2020 city and town population estimates 2010-2020, Texas (SUB-EST2020_48.csv)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 1990-2000 subcounty evaluation estimates with Census 2000 counts, Texas (sc2000f_tx.txt; released Nov 1, 2005)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer Files, places (land area and internal point)
- U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, annual place files, South Region (soYYYYa.txt, 2000-2025)
- Texas Monthly, Sarah Hepola, In Mobile City, Everybody Knows Your Name (July 20, 2021; Aug 2021 issue)
- Dallas Morning News, Trailer park city that incorporated for liquor sales now fosters friendly community (Oct 25, 2013)
- TxDOT Dallas District, Rockwall County construction projects (Sept 2026)
- NCTCOG, 2026 Population Estimates (Jan. 1, 2026)
- Ballotpedia, Rockwall Independent School District, Texas (enrollment by year)
- Texas Tribune Public Schools Explorer, Rockwall ISD (state enrollment data, 2026)
- Rockwall ISD, 2021 bond program page
- Rockwall ISD, 2021 bond information page (pre-election)
- Blue Ribbon News, Voters approve Rockwall ISD bond referendum (Nov 4, 2015)
- Blue Ribbon News, Voters approve Rockwall ISD bonds, county road bond (Nov 2021)
- The Texan, Rockwall ISD tax rate increase and bond package both fail (Nov 2024)
- Blue Ribbon News, Rockwall ISD VATRE coverage (Aug-Nov 2025)
- U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year table-based summary files 2017-2021 to 2020-2024 (B25077, B19013, B25001, B25064), place 4848858
- U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2011-2015 5-year summary file, Texas
- U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2015-2019 5-year summary file, Texas